BY IAN CROUCH
More strike teams are heading to the Lower Hunter on Friday morning to relieve weary firefighters battling a huge bushfire near Cessnock.
Three separate fires joined to create a dangerous fast-moving fire which threatened the townships of Abermain, Kurri Kurri, South Weston and Pelaw Main.
The fire has burnt through more than 600 hectares leaving Teasdale Tyres at Weston in ruins along with a number of homes.
Although the fire is listed at Advice level, work is continuing to bring the blaze under control.
Inspector Ben Shepherd from the Rural Fire Service says the exact number of properties lost is yet to be determined.
"We have what we call building impact assessment teams. They'll move across the fire ground today just trying to establish what exactly has been lost," he said.
Six schools are closed on Friday due to the fire threat.
They include Abermain, KurriI Kurri, Edwards, Pelaw Main and Weston Public Schools as well as Stanford Merthyr Infants School.
Almost 1600 properties remain without power around Abermain, Weston, Sawyers Gully and Neath. Ausgrid hopes to have complex repairs competed by 10.00am on Friday.
Meanwhile, a fire which threatened homes at West Wallsend has also been downgraded to Advice level overnight and is now under control after burning through more than 60 hectares.
Many residents were forced to flee their homes but there are no reports of property damage.
Both the M1 Pacific Motorway and Leggetts Drive at Richmond Vale have re-opened to traffic.
Crews will again be on alert on Saturday, with an elevated fire risk expected.
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| Teasdale Tyres and a car on fire at the height of the blaze. Picture Sky News |
